"Decades of research point to overlapping syndemic factors that increase vulnerability for HIV and other STBBIs among gay men and predict negative health outcomes for gay men living with HIV. By bringing such a critical group of stakeholders together we hope to reduce health inequities in our communities and support the development of a more systematic patient-centered response to gay men's mental/emotional health and wellness." - GMSH

The first event of its kind in Ontario, the Gay Men's Mental Health Summit (March 14 and 15, Toronto) will bring together clinicians, psychotherapists, social workers, and other allied mental health workers under the theme "Synchronizing Our Impact." This initiatives from the Gay Men's Health Alliance promises to deliver an informative and inspiring professional development opportunity about the mental health and wellbeing of cis and trans, gay, bi, 2 Spirit, queer and other men who have sex with men.

The Summit features keynotes presentations by Travis Salway from the University of British Columbia Centre for Disease Control who'll be speaking about sexual health clinics and how to better address population inequities in access to mental health services. Antoine B. Craigwell who produced the film You Are Not Alone (see trailer below) will be exploring black gay men's mental health and it's relationship to treatment options. Other panelists include John McCullagh from the AIDS Committee of Toronto and the publisher of PositiveLite.com who'll be tackling HIV stigma and gay men's mental health. While registration is already closed, you can catch the post-summit social presented by OurSpace and Still Here for a photo project featuring queer people affected by suicide plus a video feature from the project. Proceeds from the event go to the LGBT Youth Line.